Need a new turbo but which should I choose

[sleepymike 15]

Ok so I've been running caddy with the Vr6 turbo in for a few years but now the turbo seems to of come to the end of its life as there a fair amount of play in the main shaft!

The turbo I currently have is a Garrett Gt3076r and was thinking of going slightly bigger to a Gt35 as I'm after getting 450bhp and also sticking with the Gt style turbo i can keep the same downpipe etc setup.

So what are these universal Gt35 turbos I'm finding on eBay like? Obviously I would prefer another Garrett but with a £1000+ price tag and another baby due in 2 months I would rather try to save some pennies if I can.

Anyone have any thoughts on this please?

[FishWick 21]

I think the generic GT35s on ebay are the Journal bearing flavour. If you want a real McCoy dual ball bearing one, you'll have to stump up for a Garrett unfortunately.

Or you could get a Generic job and send it off to CR Turbos for a 360 deg bearing upgrade, which they specialise in.

[sleepymike 15]

Ive bought a replacement core for my 3076 now, half the price a new turbo and still genuine garrett so alls good.

[FishWick 21]

How many miles did you get out of your 3076? I put over 60K onto my GT35R and there was no end play at all in the shaft. They should put in 100K easily.

Yeah the CHRAs are better value than a whole new turbo as the housings never break!

[sleepymike 15]

I never bought the turbo new It was 2nd hand off eBay with apparently only 5k on it and I've only done about another 10k tops on it, so either someone was telling porkies or it's not been looked after from new!

Still the price I paid for it 2nd hand a few years ago and the cost of a new core still only just about works out the same price of a new gt3076 now!